Top Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Researchers Win Prestigious Impact Awards

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 3, 2014) - Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Beverley Diamond of Memorial University of Newfoundland today won the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada's (SSHRC) Gold Medal at the agency's annual Impact Awards ceremony. Diamond, whose influential scholarship examines the relationship between music and issues of identity, rights and social change, is considered a guiding voice in contemporary ethnomusicology in Canada and abroad. Her work on contemporary Indigenous music enriches Canadian society and promotes respect for cultural diversity.

SSHRC's Impact Awards recognize achievements in research, research training, knowledge mobilization and outreach activities in the social sciences and humanities in Canada. The winners are selected by a jury from a list of exceptional nominees submitted by postsecondary institutions across the country.

The Gold Medal comes with $100,000 in research money, while the winners of the Talent, Insight, Connection and Partnership awards receive $50,000 each. Now in their second year, the SSHRC Impact Awards demonstrate the Government of Canada's commitment to fostering a culture of research excellence in the social sciences and humanities.

This year's awards were presented at the National Arts Centre by Ted Hewitt, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of SSHRC, as part of the agency's Fall Forum conference. Paul Kennedy, host of CBC Radio's Ideas, was the event's master of ceremonies.

Quick Facts

- The Talent Award went to Memorial University of Newfoundland's Kirk Luther for his research on human behaviour within the criminal justice system, which is helping to improve policing practices and ensure all youth understand their legal rights.

- The Insight Award went to Thomas Lemieux from The University of British Columbia for his research on the causes behind the growing gap between rich and poor in Canada.

- The Connection Award went to Nico Trocmé from McGill University for his work developing innovative knowledge-sharing tools that are now being used by child welfare workers across Canada to better understand and address the needs of young people in their care.

- Queen's University bullying expert Wendy Craig took home the Partnership Award for her work on PREVNet (conducted in collaboration with scientific co-director Debra Pepler of York University), a national network aimed at stopping bullying in Canada and promoting safe and healthy relationships for all Canadian children and youth.

- SSHRC is Canada's federal research funding agency that promotes and supports the development of postsecondary-based research and research talent in the social sciences and humanities.

Quotes

"The humanities and social sciences help us to better understand human behaviour, both past and present, thus contributing to a more informed, engaged, and prosperous society. The researchers honoured today are among Canada's best and brightest in their fields. I congratulate them, and all the finalists, on their exceptional research. I would also like to extend SSHRC's congratulations to the many Canadian postsecondary institutions that nominated such outstanding candidates."